George Silano

Project Description

George Silano

A Film Lost and Forgotten… UNTIL NOW.

In December of 1965, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. opened his home for the first and only time to television host, Arnold Michaelis, legendary interviewer, who spent four days recording Dr. King and his wife, Coretta, in a uniquely intimate setting, revealing these historic figures’ most private thoughts. This program has never been televised, and had remained unseen in the Michaelis Libary of Living History, University of Georgia Libraries, for over forty years.

Now, George Silano, the veteran director/cameraman, and the only living member of the team, has rediscovered the film. He is available to show and discuss the film from his perspective, at YOUR institution.

An Emmy award nominated cinematographer, George Silano has made many one hour documentaries for television, including the highly regarding, The Soviet Woman, City of Ships, and CBS’ Hunger in America, which changed the way many Americans thought about poverty in their own country.

In addition, he was the director of photography on several feature films including The Last American Hero, starring Jeff Bridges, and was a cameraman on Taps, featuring Tom Cruise, Sean Penn, and George C. Scott. Working with the legendary producer, David Wolper, George filmed biographies of screen icons Bette Davis and Paul Newman.

Silano was active in the turbulent sixties, recording JFK’s inaugural address for national television. George also traveled aboard Air Force One many times, and often dined with LBJ, as he filmed A President’s Country, for the State Department, directed by four-time Academy Award winner Charles Guggenheim, and narrated by Gregory Peck.

Among his most significant assignments was being the only cameraman/director to have been invited into the home of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., where he recorded his most private thoughts and premonitions. Buried in the archives for forty years, Silano has rediscovered this film and has shown it to rave reviews.

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